Devotional – January 18, 2021

The jeering must have been unbearable for Noah as he pounded one nail after another into the perfectly cut cypress wood. He had heard the voice of God’s instruction cut the wood to specification and make an ark. His wife, sons and daughter-in-laws may have had a hard time believing that He had heard God say he should build an ark. The rains that Noah spoke of had never before fallen upon the earth; yet Noah was determined to be obedient to God’s command, so he built the ark just the way he was instructed.

The story of Noah is quite famous; many of us grew up reading and singing about how Noah had brought in animals in the ark, two by two. In our day, we may never hear of another person building an ark and loading it with animals, but for sure we will hear persons testify how God saved them from destruction. Today, I share another of Stormie Omartian’s testimonies of how God instructed her to relocate her family to another state. In the best-selling book: The Power of the Praying Woman, this is what she wrote in Chapter 4- Lord Teach Me to Walk in Obedience to Your Ways:

…more than 20 years ago, God instructed my husband and me to move from California to Tennessee. This was not something I wanted to do, nor did the thought of doing that ever enter my mind. I was happy where I was and didn’t want to leave. But because it was a clear directive from God, we packed up and obeyed.

The Power of the Praying Woman, Stormie Omartian – Page 53-54

Stormie further shared that a few months later, an earthquake struck in California. The house she had lived in was badly damaged; based on the extent of the damage, if she and her family had been living in it at the time, they possibly would have been badly hurt, or even killed.

The theme for this week is: The Promises of God; today’s topic is Promise of Safety. In His Word, the Bible, God establishes His desire to keep His children safe from harm. This is evident through stories like Noah’s and other Bible Characters such as Abraham, Lot, Daniel and also the whole nation of Israel. The prevalence of disaster in this present life is a reality; yet God does not just leave us to the mercy of them. By virtue of His direction and revelation we see evidence in the Bible of God continually seeking to keep His people out of harm’s way.

Like Stormie, I have had my personal moments when God’s direction resulted in me escaping harm. One instance was:

One night, while driving on the Edward Seaga Highway I had one hand on the steering wheel, and heard the voice of God say to me: “hold the steering with both hands”. I immediately responded and did as I heard. Within less than a minute, I saw three dogs crossing the road, one behind the other. Any attempt I would make to swerve would have been dangerous, so I held firm to the steering wheel instead. The car hit one of the dogs, but because I was aware of what was happening I managed to keep the car on the road without panicking.

Shamelia Simpson-McKenzie

I have never forgotten this experience, in fact I have become more conscious of God’s presence with me and I practice to listen for the still small voice that I know is always present to guide and direct my path. I shared Stormie’s story as well as my own so you know, and always remember that God’s promises are still active and valid today. What I know makes the difference between safety and harm are:

1. Know God’s Promise of Safety – It is important to be aware that God desires for us to be protected. David knew this when he wrote Psalm 23 “Yea though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me… (Psalm 23:4 )
2. Pray for Guidance and Direction – God’s guidance and direction is not automatic; we have irrevocable free will, so we are encouraged through God’s Word to ask for that which we desire. “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened”. (St. Matthew 7:7)
3. Stay Connected to God – God desires to be close to us at all times so He can lead us in the path of righteousness; yet, we have a part to play. We too should desire to be close to God, and make all effort to entertain His Spirit. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (St. James 4:8)

Noah’s story continued; the rains fell just as God had said they would, the water rose, and the ark floated on the water for forty days and forty nights. The rain stopped and the waters subsided. Noah and his family, as well as all the animals were safe in the ark. In our your life, you will surely be at risk of disaster or destruction; yet you can be confident that God is able to keep you and your loved ones safe. As you claim God’s Promise of Safety, be inspired to also commit to do your part in order to activate the blessings He has stored up for you. May your heart believe in God’s love for you, may it be that you pray fervently for guidance and direction, and stay connected at all times to the God Who is the lover of your soul.

Be Blessed